Torque locking system for fastening a wear member to a support structure

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a releasable locking assembly for attaching a wear member to a support structure. It may be used with excavating equipment for attaching ground-engaging teeth to adaptors, lip shrouds to bucket lips, or other analogous uses. The wear member includes at least one pin-retainer-receiving opening in one side. The opening is tapered, being narrower at its outer surface and wider at its inner surface. The support structure includes at least one pin-receiving recess which generally aligns with the opening in the wear member when the wear member and the support structure are operatively coupled. The pin retainer is a frustoconically shaped cylinder which is threaded internally. It is inserted into the opening in the wear member. The wear member is slidably mounted onto the support structure. The pin is an elongate body which is externally threaded. It is screwed into the pin retainer by the application of torque force from a standard ratchet tool. The pin extends through the wear member and into the recess in the support structure to lock the wear member to the support structure. The pin may be released using a ratchet tool and removed from the pin retainer. The wear member may then be removed from the support structure.

1. An assembly for operatively attaching a wear member to a support structure, wherein the wear member and support structure, respectively, have a first and second passage, which are co-extensive and form a common passage when the wear member is operatively coupled to the support structure, the assembly comprising:
 a resilient pin retainer receivable in a non-rotatable position within the first passage, the pin retainer being threaded internally; and  
 pin means having threaded portions corresponding to the threaded portions of the pin retainer, wherein when the pin means engages the pin retainer by the application of torque force, the pin means extends through the first passage and into the second passage for operatively locking the wear member to the support structure, and in combination with the support structure, for bearing substantially all of the wear member-removal forces during use of the wear member.  
 
   
   
     2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the central longitudinal axis of the first passage is forward of the central longitudinal axis of the second passage to allow the pin means to tightly lock the wear member to the support structure. 
   
   
     3. An assembly for operatively attaching a wear member to a support structure, wherein the wear member and support structure, respectively, have a first and second passage, which are co-extensive and form a common passage when the wear member is operatively coupled to the support structure, the assembly comprising:
 a pin retainer receivable in the first passage, said pin retainer being threaded internally and being substantially non-load bearing in respect of wear member-removal forces during use of the wear member; and  
 pin insertable within the pin retainer and having threaded portions corresponding to the threading of the pin retainer wherein when the pin is inserted into the pin retainer, the pin extends through the first passage and into the second passage to operatively lock the wear member to the support structure.  
 
   
   
     4. The assembly of  claim 3  wherein a central longitudinal axis of the first passage is slightly offset from a central longitudinal axis of the second passage. 
   
   
     5. The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the pin retainer and first passage have corresponding surfaces which retain the pin retainer in a non-rotatable position. 
   
   
     6. The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the pin retainer is held in position in the first passage by the support structure when the wear member is operatively positioned on the support structure. 
   
   
     7. The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the pin contacts a surface of the first passage during use of the wear member as a result of wear-member removal forces. 
   
   
     8. An assembly for operatively attaching a wear member to a support structure, wherein the wear member and support structure, respectively, have a first and second passage, which are co-extensive and form a common passage when the wear member is operatively coupled to the support structure, the assembly comprising:
 a resilient pin retainer receivable in the first passage, the pin retainer being substantially non-load bearing in respect of wear member-removal forces during use of wear member; and  
 a pin insertable within the pin retainer and, when inserted, extending through the first passage and into the second passage for operatively locking the wear member to the support structure wherein the pin retainer has a tapered outer surface having the outer end of the pin retainer narrower than the inner end of the pin retainer, wherein when the pin retainer is inserted into the first passage and the wear member is operatively positioned on the support structure, the pin retainer is held in position.  
 
   
   
     9. An assembly for operatively attaching a wear member to a support structure, wherein the wear member and support structure, respectively, have a first and second passage, which are co-extensive and form a common passage when the wear member is operatively coupled to the support structure, the assembly comprising:
 a resilient pin retainer receivable in the first passage, the pin retainer being substantially non-load bearing in respect of wear member-removal forces during use of wear member; and  
 a pin insertable within the pin retainer and, when inserted, extending through the first passage and into the second passage for operatively locking the wear member to the support structure wherein the retaining means comprise at least one substantially flat surface on the pin retainer and at least one corresponding substantially flat surface in the first passage.